Ok so you know how sometimes evolution, and particularly sexual selection, leads to some really over-the-top traits in males? Like how male birds of paradise develop ridiculous plumage for mating that makes them more visible to predators and hinders their flying ability? Well, let me introduce you to Mesoplodon layardii, the strap-toothed whale.
Yes, those are tusks growing out of the male’s lower jaw. Tusks that can grow up to a foot in length, and curve back and over the jaw, eventually preventing the male from opening his jaw by about 50%.
The tusks aren’t used for feeding (they primarily eat squid, so no teeth necessary), but instead are used for fighting, similar to a narwhal’s tusks. Does it seem practical to partially fuse your jaw shut, severely limiting the variety of prey you can pursue, in order to fight for mates? No. Seems like really bad idea to me. But what do I know? I’m not a strap-toothed whale.
These whales are super rare to see (they live in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica), so there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. And their weird teeth is only one of the unusual things about them (they also have unusual countershading where they’re darker on the bottom and lighter on the top, unlike pretty much every other animal in the ocean). Anyways, I just found out this whale existed and I was fascinated. Hope you enjoy!
These guys are so fucked
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This is a very poorly designed animal
This is like the animal equivalent of refusing to take off your jacket in the scorching heat because it completes your outfit
rip tumblr 